At least once a week, I speak with a CEO or board member interested in building a strategic plan. I ask questions to gauge the team's and organization's readiness to take on the complex, transformational work of strategy. At the end of many of these conversations, the leader decides to pause and do some prep work before engaging a consultant to build a new strategy.

Strategic Planning is a disciplined effort for organizations to decide who they serve, what they do, and why they do it, focusing on the future.

Everyone reaches the point where they need to break up with their old life. I imagine the conversation like a college breakup. "Life, it's me. We need to talk". "This just isn't working for me. I've changed. I know you'll find someone who appreciates you, and you two will be happy together".

What retirees can teach us about big transitions

What if your past life and career have just been a series of prototypes?